Fry theft

[YAL05T]

I have been holding 6 adult C. amazonum for a couple of members here since November in a 6x2x2.

Of these there was two firm pairs who had a few runs of spawning in opposite (diagonal corners) and a few days ago both pairs hatched out batches. I had a pile of driftwood in the middle as a visual barrier.

This morning I found the smaller male beaten to death and the fry swarm of the dominant pair doubled in size.

I can only assume that they have wandered and the larger pair have "rescued" the fry and when the other male tried to recover his brood he has paid the price.

Has anyone seen this before? They fry are all hatched within a 10-12 hour period so they are more or less identical in size, I wonder if this is a factor.

[Buccal]

I've had Jaguars do this.

I've even had Malawi mouth brooders spit then another brooding female collect up in mouth,,, roughly 5 days apart in spawn to.

I'd say if in brooding stages,,, the maternal instinct is so strong that almost anything will be taken under care (if the timing is right).